Wenger handed conduct rap

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged with improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute by the Football Association after the Frenchman accused one of the assistant referees in the Carling Cup final of lying.

Wenger was incensed that Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor was charged with reacting aggressively and failing to leave the field of play after he was sent off following a stoppage-time brawl with Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium.

The Togo international was dismissed by referee Howard Webb amid claims that he had struck Chelsea's Frank Lampard.

"Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged with improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute," confirmed an FA statement.

"The charge relates to his media comments about one of the assistant referees in the Carling Cup final.

"He has until March 30 to respond."

Earlier in the month, the FA had asked Wenger to explain his comments and he had said: "I feel Adebayor didn't punch anybody, so when the linesman says he punched somebody, he lies.

"When he says he punched (Frank) Lampard, I would like you to ask Lampard if he was punched by Adebayor and I want him to say the truth.

"If it is yes we will accept it, but we have watched it on microscope and if you see Adebayor punching Lampard, I would like you to show me that.

"However, if they acknowledge that he got a wrong red card they are in a bad position to punish him because he didn't leave the pitch - because they are saying to him he was right, he was wrongly dismissed."